News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-11-17
LIFE AMONG THE MORMONS.
An Interview with a Mormon
Bishop who is Wealthy in Wives
and Goods.

A man of medium height, with
flushed face, crushed strawberry mus
tache and silver hair, walked briskly up
to the counter of the Palace Hotel office
Yesterday, shortly after the arrival OF
the Overland. He walked like man
of 65 or over, though he was not more
than 55.
The man was Bishop Clawson-H. B.
Clawson-of Salt Lake City, the noted
Latter-day Saint and right bower of
Brigham Young, when that celebrity
was in the land of the living.
Bishop Clawson called Clerk Count
Smith, of the Palace, who leaned half
wav over the counter, while he had
something whispered in his ear.
Front, show this gentleman to -
- said the Count, speaking the
last two words of his speech in maud
ible tones.
The man did not register, but was
shown to his room, and card bearing
his name was placed in the tally rack.
About ten o'clock gentle tap ut the
door of room 215, Palace Hotel, and
''come," admitted reporter into the
presence of the inspiring divine.
The Bishop expected the caller was
q bellboy, or one of Mormon faith,
and not reporter. He was anxious to
avoid all intercourse with newspaper
men.
He was found in his bare feet, and
without coat or vest.
He had Just finished repast on
Riverside peach, the stone of which
was upon the table, and Bartlett pear
lay beside it.
A questioning look was directed at
the reporter as he said, 'How-d'y do,
Bishop" and took seat.
care you one of u.s." he asked, trying
to hide his nude feet under the chair he
was sitting upon.
'sNot exactely," returned the reporter,
maintaining his incOg. "But | want to
know something about your religion, so
[ can Judge whether or not l would like
to be"
s'You are a newspaper man"
The exclamation was a startler and
could not be denied.
His small eyes glistened in the gas
light.
AS the secret was out the reporter
began putting leading questions.
w lldU 90 you ptOlJ10 VI UllO
Edmunds-Tuckerl aw?'
"Well, really" the bishop observed,
eve haven't given it much attention;
we have thought very little about it.
But you know that it's matter of his
tory that all religious denominations
have stood up and fought for their con-
victions and have maintained them at
whatever cost. Many are joining us,
both in this country and abroad"
'.Do the converts abroad come to this
country"
"They do; most of them, in fact all
of them are well-to-do people who come
to this country, ane the few who have no
means are provided for. The Mormon
family of Utah is branching out extern
sively, and large tracts of land are oc-
crpied by them in Southern Idaho and
Montana.
s'Many of our faith are heavy stock
owners, and several are big railway con-
tractors. They take contracts to build
railways in different portions of the
country, and procure their labor from
our focks."
'sDo you intend fighting for what
you consider your rights 2"
The bishop threw the peach-stone in
q basin and said nothing.
"What was your opinion of Mr..
Young as high priest p
'FPresident Young was a great, good
and noble man"
Bishop Clawson's manner began to
grow frigid and his feet also, and he
wanted the interview to close. Several
other questions were propounded, but
We're not answered.
The door was tapped again and
second time the Bishop gave the sesame,
"Come -
A man with a low forehead, banged
hair, and cannibalistic appearance enter
ed and fell upon his knees before the
IsatterDay Saint.
He arose and turning to his reve-
ence asked the question before asked by
the Bishop, els he one of us?"
The priest shook his head sorrowfully
and nodded to the reporter, signifying
the interview was at an end
It is understood that Bishop Claw
son makes secret trips to this city peri
where he has number of pros
elytes at work, aud when he comes here
they report to him.
Quite frequently neophytes are made
and forwarded to Salt Lake City, where
they are initiated into the mysteries of
MOlmOndom.
Bishop Clawson was one of President
Young's Twelve Apostles, and if it were
not for his clam-shell tightness he would
tell some interesting stories, He is a
very wealthy man, both in wives and
Francisco Examiner.